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Bulldogs’ Lemon charged with felony

• Georgia defensive lineman Michael Lemon is charged with both misdemeanor battery and felony aggravated battery after a fight that injured a former Westover High School student.

Scott Chancey

ATHENS — Former Westover High School student Demarius Jackson told The Herald on Wednesday night that he suffered a “blowout fracture” in his face after a fight last weekend that led to Georgia defensive lineman Michael Lemon being charged with both misdemeanor battery and felony aggravated battery.

“That’s what we were pushing for,” Jackson told The Herald on Wednesday.

“They originally wanted to do it as a simple battery (charge). And the detective and doctor told me that simple battery was not the case. It was more of an aggravated battery or aggravated assault so they pushed it to a bigger charge.”

The police report, according to The Associated Press, said Lemon punched Jackson five times before he was pulled off.

“He asked me a question about a girlfriend of his that I didn’t know and he accused me of talking about a girlfriend of his that I didn’t know and he accused me of talking to her and I didn’t know what he was talking about,” Jackson said. “He proceeded to turn away and I was sitting down the whole time and he was standing up and next thing I know he blindsided me. He sucker-punched me. I remember like two punches and I blacked out.”

A conviction on aggravated battery charges carries with it a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Jackson, who said he is majoring in political science and international affairs at Georgia, said he did not know yet if he needs surgery, and added he had been told it could take up to year before his face heals.

“I hope for justice to be served, for more than simple battery,” Jackson said. “That’s what me and my family are hoping for. Our family is just upset it took so long for the warrant to be issued.”

As for Lemon, he played in seven games last season and recorded season-highs of two tackles versus Tennessee and Western Carolina. Lemon was recently named the most Improved Defensive End out of spring practice.

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